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San Juan Capistrano Handicap

The San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap is an American invitational handicap Thoroughbred horse race run annually on turf at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is North America's longest graded stakes race. Open to horses age four and older, the Grade II event currently offers a purse of $150,000. Run during the second half of April as the traditional closing-day feature at Santa Anita Park, at about 1 3/4 miles it is the longest grass race in America. Since 1965 it has been an invitational handicap.

Inaugurated in 1935, for 1940 only it was limited to three-year-olds and for three-year-olds and older in all other years prior to 1968. From its inception through 1953, the race was contested on dirt, then in 1954 it was converted to a turf event. Over the years, it has been run at various distances. In 1964, the San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap was run in two divisions.

With the increasing emphasis on speed horses bred to compete in the Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic distance of 1 1/4 miles on dirt, during the last two decades longer races run on grass or dirt in North America have been in decline. Once a Grade I event, the about 1 3/4 miles San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap now holds a Grade II classification. Since 2007, the winner of the San Juan Capistrano has received ballot free entry into Australia's greatest horse race and the staying championship of the world, the Melbourne Cup. As of 2008, no San Juan Capistrano winner has made the trip to Flemington for the Melbourne Cup.

At age eight, Niarkos (1968) and Mashkour (1991) are the oldest horses to win the event. The March 11, 1966 edition of the San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap was seen by 60,792 fans, the largest crowd of the season, who turned out to say farewell to retiring U.S. Racing Hall of Fame jockey Johnny Longden. Fittingly, without ever using the whip as he always did, Longden guided George Royal from fifteen lengths back in last place to a thrilling photo-finish win.

Bet on the San Juan Capistrano Handicap at Off Track Betting

Santa Anita Park Graded Stakes Races

Stakes Race Grade Purse
Sir Beaufort Stakes II $150,000
Malibu Stakes I $300,000
La Brea Stakes I $300,000
Robert J. Frankel Stakes II $150,000
Monrovia Handicap III $100,000
San Pasqual Stakes II $150,000
Sham Stakes III $100,000
Daytona Stakes III $100,000
San Fernando Stakes II $150,000
Santa Ynez Stakes II $150,000
San Gabriel Stakes II $150,000
Palos Verdes Stakes II $150,000
La Cañada Stakes II $150,000
Santa Monica Stakes I $300,000
Santa Ysabel Stakes III $100,000
Robert B. Lewis Stakes II $200,000
Strub Stakes II $200,000
Arcadia Stakes II $150,000
San Antonio Stakes II $200,000
San Marcos Stakes II $150,000
Santa Maria Stakes II $200,000
San Vicente Stakes II $150,000
Buena Vista Handicap II $150,000
San Carlos Handicap II $200,000
Las Virgenes Stakes I $250,000
Frank E. Kilroe Mile I $300,000
Santa Anita Handicap I $750,000
San Felipe Stakes II $300,000
Las Flores Stakes III $100,000
Santa Margarita Stakes I $300,000
San Luis Rey Stakes II $150,000
Tokyo City Cup III $100,000
Santa Ana Stakes II $150,000
Santa Anita Oaks I $300,000
Santa Anita Derby I $750,000
Potrero Grande Stakes II $150,000
Providencia Stakes III $150,000
Las Cienegas Handicap III $100,000
Santa Barbara Handicap II $150,000
San Simeon Handicap III $100,000
San Juan Capistrano Handicap II $150,000
Sen. Ken Maddy Stakes III $100,000
Yellow Ribbon Stakes I $250,000
Lady's Secret Stakes I $250,000
Goodwood Stakes I $250,000
Norfolk Stakes I $250,000
Oak Leaf Stakes I $250,000
Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship II $150,000
Oak Tree Mile II $150,000
Ancient Title Stakes I $250,000
Morvich Handicap III $100,000
Oak Tree Derby II $150,000
Harold C. Ramser Sr. Stakes III $100,000
Las Palmas Stakes II $150,000

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